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J. POTTER, J. DE LONG AND F. PIKE. MACHINE FOR UPHOLSTERING CHAIR SEATS.

I APPLICATION FILED DEC 9, I918. 1 3 1 4,430 I Patented Aug. 26; 1919.

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rm: mummn ILANOGRAPII c0. WASHINGTON. D. C.

+1 TED STATES PATENT orricn.

JOHN POTTER, JAY DE LONG, AND FLOYD PIKE, 0F GRAND LEDGE, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR UPHOLSTERING CHAIR-SEATS.

Application filed December 9, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN POTTER, JAY

.DE LONG, and FLOYD PIKE, citizens of the United States, residing at Grand Ledge in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for U pholstering Chair-Seats, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention comprehends generally improvements in upholstering machines and more particularly has reference sequently insure of an effective upholstering of the seat.

The improvements in the details and arrangement of parts will be apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in connection with the specific description hereinafter contained, and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of imparting a full understanding of the invention.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

' Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper cross bar with portions of the base torn away,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 44 of Fig. 2 showing portions of the branches of the supply pipe in elevation with the valves in section,

Fig. 5 is a partial section, enlarged, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing a plan of the surface immediately beneaththe section.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate the corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings there is provided a main support including a base 1 adapted to be disposed on a framework such as a bench 2, and secured in place by suitable means,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Serial No. 265,884.

such as a nut and bolt arrangement 3. An upper cross bar 4 is supported in spaced relation above the base by detachable vertical rods 5 and the bar has its center recessed to receive a cylinder 6, the head 7 of which is held in place by bolts 8, in turn attached at their lower ends to the bar 4. A piston rod 9 passes through a central opening in the cross bar and also through a packing gland 10, carrying upon its upper end a piston head generally designated 10 and which of course, is slidable in the cylinder and of a suitable form including preferably cupped leathers 11 gripped between the disk 12, mounted on the rod, and the follower 13 and held in place by the nut 14L. A packing or plunging head 15 is universally connected to the lower end of the head, the connection being of the ball-and-socket type as at 15, thereby permitting the head to have a limited motion to adapt itself to any slight variation of levels of the material placed below it upon the base 1, as will become apparent.

With a view toward providing, improved means for controlling the reciprocatory movement of the plunging or packing head 15, a supply pipe 16 is employed and has interposed therein a manually operable shutoff valve 17 for controlling the passage of air therethrough and into the branches thereof. Preferably the supply pipe leads to a T-fitting 18, in turn connected by pipe sections 18 with upper and lower three-way valves 19 and 20. These valves are operated by levers 21 and 22 connected in turn by a link 23 and control the passage of the air through the branches of the supply pipe, which branches are preferably arranged in communication with the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 9 by elbow sections 2 1 and 25, which form a part of the branches. As shown in Fig. 4., the valves 19 and 20 illustrate the adjustment which agrees with the position of the levers in Fig. 1, the piston head being on its downward stroke. When the levers are swung downwardly the valve 19 is closed and the valve 20 opened permitting the air to enter the lower end of the cylinder and raise the piston head 10 and consequently raise the plunging or packing head 15. It is preferred that the valves 19 and 20 be fitted with vent bushings 26 to reduce the orifice so that the escape of the exhaust may be such as to prevent too rapid a movement of the piston head.

In order that the cylinder 9 may be lubricated, a plug 29 is detachably mounted in the head 7 to permit of the introduction of oil into the cylinder, as is apparent.

Disposed upon the base 1 is a mold or matrix 30 having a cavity 31 formed therein which gives the shape desired to the upholstering of the seat. This mold is at present formed of wood and is fitted with a number of metal bushings or sockets 32 to give a suitable bearing surface to accommodate pins 33, the sockets being set in an inclined position to cause the pins to hold with greater tenacity. The pins are designed to hold apiece of leather or other material used to form the covering of the completed seat, and which in the present practice. for the shape outlined, is stretched with a considerable degree of tightness across the cavity 31 as indicated Upon the leather 34 is adapted to be placed the padding material of unspun cotton 35 and a quantity of tow 36, while disposed upon the padding material is the seat frame 37 preferably of wood, and which is driven down by the head 10 and the leather thereby caused to bag down and engagethe bottom of the cavity 31 so as to be fully stretched. As the leather is gripped tightly between the seat frame 37 and the mold3O and held firmly in placethereby,the pins 33 are withdrawnand the edges of the leather turnedpver and positioned in'a rabbet 38 on the seat frame 37 andtacked or otherwise secured.

In practice, it has been found desirable to place upon the surface of the mold 30 a metal rod 39 on all or one or more sides depending upon' the shape of the seat, the

arrangement, being substantially indicated in Fig. 6. When the rod is positioned 1n the manner indicated, the material forming the seat cover is stretched tightly, by hand,

over the rod 39. 'The pins 33 'are then thrust into the holes in the sockets 32 to hold the material firmly in place until the piston head 10 carrying the packin head 15 passes downwardly and contacts with tlieseat frame 37 to hold the material in the cavity, the purpose of the rod 39 being to increase the tension of the material, as is apparent.

7 It is believed that in view of the foregoing description a further detailed description of the operation of the invention is en tirely unnecessary. Llkewlse, 1t is believed Copies of this patent may be obtained for and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of lan-' guage, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a matrixincluding a cavit conforming to the seat cover, a plurality o sockets inclined outwardly adjacent to the matrix cavity, a

pin for each socket adapted to be inserted therein passing through the cover material,

and a tension producing member adapted I to be disposedbetween the pin and the adj acent edge of the matrix cavity and over which the seat covering material is adapted '85 I to be drawn. y 5

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a matr x lncludinga seat cavity, means for stretching a seat covering over the cavity, j and a rod bearing upon the body of the matrix externally of the cavity and between the matrix cavity and the stretching means and over which the 'cover material is drawn.

f 3. In an apparatus of the class-described, I i a matrix including a cavity conforming to the contour of thearticle to be formed, a.

supporting frame for the article, the cover portion of the article adapted to be disposed over the matrix cavity, means adapted to stretch the cover over the matrix cavity, and

a rodbearing upon thebody of the matrix.

externally of the cavity and between the matrix 'cavity and the cover material and over which the covermaterial is drawn. a

In testimony whereof, we aflix our'signa- Y JOHN-POTTER? .JAY DE LONG.

FLOYD PIKE.

tures hereto;

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, I Washington, D. G. 

